Elon Musk left South Africa at 17 to avoid conscription into the military, stating he didn't want to spend years oppressing black people.

“Multiple biographical sources and interviews confirm that Elon Musk left South Africa in 1989 at age 17, partly to avoid mandatory conscription into the South African Defence Force, which enforced the apartheid regime. In a 2013 interview, Musk stated, "spending two years suppressing Black people doesn't seem to be a great use of time." This account is consistent across various reports and biographies, including Ashlee Vance's 2015 book and Walter Isaacson's 2023 biography. Context: ⚠️ Actual number differs by >10%. The claim accurately reflects Musk's own stated reasons for leaving his birth country. At the time, all white men over 16 were required to serve in the military, which was an instrument of the apartheid government's policies.”